😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,367 in Barcelona versus $2,121 in Sodertalje.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,465 in Barcelona versus $3,231 in Sodertalje.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,563 in Barcelona versus $4,341 in Sodertalje.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 12% more expensive than Sodertalje, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona77% above, Sodertalje58% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Sodertalje
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.58€15.14
$13.04SEK 122
34.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4€58.9
$55.7SEK 522
22.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.06€12.10
$10.74SEK 101
30.91%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.39
$4.54SEK 42.58
-38.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80€2.41
$2.80SEK 26.26
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.78
$2.42SEK 22.67
-14.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.46€3.84
$7.33SEK 68.8
-39.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.97
$7.58SEK 71.1
-39.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Sodertalje
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.07
$1.85SEK 17.39
-32.97%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.75
$3.05SEK 28.60
-33.44%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$3.98SEK 37.35
-51.76%
Eggs
$3.31€2.85
$3.94SEK 36.99
-15.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.43€15.87
$13.91SEK 130
32.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.49€8.17
$11.98SEK 112
-20.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.16€16.49
$15.43SEK 145
24.17%
Apples(1kg)
$2.64€2.27
$3.53SEK 33.15
-25.21%
Banana(1kg)
$2.45€2.11
$2.62SEK 24.55
-6.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.83
$1.56SEK 14.63
35.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.45
$5.60SEK 52.5
-49.11%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$1.52SEK 14.25
34.21%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.59
$2.08SEK 19.52
-11.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47€1.27
$2.80SEK 26.23
-47.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$1.66SEK 15.60
-49.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.14€6.15
$7.20SEK 67.5
-0.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.79
$10.96SEK 103
-28.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.19
$1.73SEK 16.18
-20.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31€1.99
$1.94SEK 18.22
19.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Sodertalje
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.98€2.57
$4.11SEK 38.55
-27.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.26€25.19
$98.8SEK 927
-70.39%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.60€3.96
$14.77SEK 138
-68.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.07€1.78
$1.19SEK 11.18
73.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.18€25.12
$20.91SEK 196
39.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84€1.58
$2.01SEK 18.89
-8.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.6K
$32.5KSEK 304.5K
20.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€28.1K
$34.6KSEK 324.9K
-5.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Sodertalje
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€162
$90.2SEK 846
108.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.93€19.74
$28.75SEK 270
-20.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.71€31.61
$36.32SEK 341
1.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Sodertalje
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.4€49.39
$34.84SEK 327
64.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.70€17.82
$25.04SEK 235
-17.33%
Cinema Ticket
$11.19€9.64
$15.57SEK 146
-28.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Sodertalje
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$721€621
$89.8SEK 842
703.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K€13.0K
$740SEK 6,936
1934.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Sodertalje
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.2€74.2
$74.5SEK 699
15.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.07€31.92
$43.28SEK 406
-14.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.8
$115SEK 1,079
-11.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€99.8
$107SEK 1,006
8.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Sodertalje
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,534€1,320
$1,110SEK 10.4K
38.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220€1,051
$938SEK 8,799
30.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,696€2,321
$2,134SEK 20.0K
26.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,013€1,733
$1,666SEK 15.6K
20.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,220€6,216
$4,226SEK 39.6K
70.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,189€4,467
$3,818SEK 35.8K
35.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Sodertalje
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,359€2,031
$3,339SEK 31.3K
-29.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
4.87
-30.39%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Last update for Sodertalje: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,534 in Barcelona and $1,110 in Sodertalje. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Sodertalje pays 42% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $56.0 in Sodertalje. Groceries flip the comparison at $318 vs $371, with Barcelona cheaper for home cooking.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Barcelona vs Sodertalje: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Sodertalje?
Barcelona and Sodertalje differ by about 12% in total monthly costs ($2,367 vs $2,121 including rent). Sodertalje is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Sodertalje earns 42% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and Sodertalje?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,534 in Barcelona versus $1,110 in Sodertalje. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Barcelona and Sodertalje?
Childcare runs $721 in Barcelona versus $89.8 in Sodertalje. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Barcelona pay roughly 17% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $2,121 in Sodertalje versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sodertalje but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Sodertalje the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Sodertalje?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Barcelona or Sodertalje safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Sodertalje are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Barcelona or Sodertalje?
Expats usually find Sodertalje gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.